Qualification of Drivers; Hearing Deficiencies; Waivers

Rodney E. Slater
Federal Highway Administration
February 4, 1994

[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 24 (Friday, February 4, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-2586]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: February 4, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

49 CFR Part 391

[FHWA Docket Nos. MC-93-25 and MC-93-30]
RIN 2125-AD22

 

Qualification of Drivers; Hearing Deficiencies; Waivers

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Extension and reopening of comment periods.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA announces the extension of the time during which it 
will accept comments to Docket MC-93-30 and the reopening of Docket MC-
93-25. Comments to Docket MC-93-25, which closed on January 14, 1994, 
will be accepted until April 5, 1994. Comments to Docket MC-93-30 will 
be accepted until April 15, 1994, an extension of the original February 
14, 1994, deadline.

DATES: Written, signed comments must be received on or before April 5, 
1994, for Docket MC-93-25 and on or before April 15, 1994, for Docket 
MC-93-30.

ADDRESSES: Submit all comments to the Federal Highway Administration, 
Docket MC-93-25 and/or MC-93-30, Office of Chief Counsel/HCC-10, 400 
Seventh Street, SW., room 4232, Washington, DC 20590. Comments may be 
examined at the above address from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., e.t., Monday 
through Friday, except legal Federal holidays. Persons desiring 
notification of receipt of comments must include a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION C0NTACT: The FHWA has established a special 
telephone number, 1-800-832-5660, for inquiries about this notice, the 
hearing deficiencies advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM), and 
the hearing deficiencies study. The TDD number is 1-800-699-7828. 
Messages may be left on both telephone numbers 24 hours a day.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 15, 1993, the FHWA published an 
ANPRM (Docket MC-93-30) that requested comments on whether there is a 
need to amend the Agency's driver qualification requirements relating 
to hearing. 58 FR 65634. The current Federal hearing standard is at 49 
CFR 391.41(b)(11). The FHWA believes that a review of the hearing 
standard is necessary to assess its continued relevance and the effect 
advances in medical science and technology may have on it. Such 
advances may lead to amending the current standard.
    The FHWA simultaneously published a notice of its intent to 
initiate a study examining the relationship between hearing 
deficiencies and safe operation of commercial motor vehicles, and 
sought comments on that notice (Docket MC-93-25). 58 FR 65638.
    The public was notified that the FHWA would accept comments on both 
notices for the periods listed above.
    Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (AHAS), an organization with 
an expressed interest in highway safety issues, subsequently requested 
that the FHWA extend each comment period by 60 days. The AHAS stated it 
needed additional time to gather information about the history of the 
hearing standard and the effect that hearing deficiencies may have on 
safety.
    The FHWA is mindful of the need for all interested parties to have 
enough time to prepare thoughtful comments. The FHWA therefore is 
extending the deadline for comments to Docket MC-93-30 an additional 60 
days and is reopening Docket MC-93-25 for 60 days. As indicated in the 
Rulemaking Analyses and Notices section of the ANPRM, all comments 
received before the close of business on the comment closing dates 
indicated above will be considered and will be available for 
examination in the dockets at the above address. Comments received 
after the closing dates will be filed in the dockets and will be 
considered to the extent practicable. In addition to late comments, the 
FHWA will continue to file relevant information in the dockets as it 
becomes available after the comment closing dates, and interested 
persons should continue to examine the dockets for new material.

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. app. 2505; 49 U.S.C. 3102; and 49 CFR 1.48.

    Issued on: January 28, 1994.
Rodney E. Slater,
Federal Highway Administrator.
[FR Doc. 94-2586 Filed 2-3-94; 8:45 am]
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